---
title: Text emphasis
---

import {TabItem, Tabs} from "@astrojs/starlight/components";

import FlattenedSteps from "../../components/FlattenedSteps.astro";
import KeyboardTip from "../../components/KeyboardTip.astro";
import EmphasisExamples from "../include/_EmphasisExamples.mdx";
import EmphasisIntro from "../include/_EmphasisIntro.mdx";
import StartComposing from "../include/_StartComposing.mdx";

import BoldIcon from "~icons/zulip-icon/bold";
import ItalicIcon from "~icons/zulip-icon/italic";
import StrikethroughIcon from "~icons/zulip-icon/strikethrough";

<EmphasisIntro />

## Making text bold

<Tabs>
  <TabItem label="Via compose box button">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <StartComposing />

      1. Select the text you want to format.
      1. Click the **Bold** (<BoldIcon />) icon at the
         bottom of the compose box.
    </FlattenedSteps>

    <KeyboardTip>
      You can also use <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>B</kbd> to insert bold formatting.
    </KeyboardTip>
  </TabItem>

  <TabItem label="Via Markdown">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <StartComposing />

      1. To make text bold, use double asterisks (`**`) around the text: `**text**`.
    </FlattenedSteps>

    <KeyboardTip>
      You can also use <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>B</kbd> to insert bold formatting.
    </KeyboardTip>
  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

## Making text italic

<Tabs>
  <TabItem label="Via compose box button">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <StartComposing />

      1. Select the text you want to format.
      1. Click the **Italic** (<ItalicIcon />) icon at
         the bottom of the compose box.
    </FlattenedSteps>

    <KeyboardTip>
      You can also use <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>I</kbd> to insert italic formatting.
    </KeyboardTip>
  </TabItem>

  <TabItem label="Via Markdown">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <StartComposing />

      1. To make text italic, use single asterisks (`*`) around the text: `*text*`.
    </FlattenedSteps>

    <KeyboardTip>
      You can also use <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>I</kbd> to insert italic formatting.
    </KeyboardTip>
  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

## Applying strikethrough formatting

<Tabs>
  <TabItem label="Via compose box button">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <StartComposing />

      1. Select the text you want to format.
      1. Click the **Strikethrough**
         (<StrikethroughIcon />) icon at the
         bottom of the compose box.
    </FlattenedSteps>
  </TabItem>

  <TabItem label="Via Markdown">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <StartComposing />

      1. To apply strikethrough formatting, use two tildes (`~~`) around the text:
         `~~text~~`.
    </FlattenedSteps>
  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

## Examples

<EmphasisExamples />

## Related articles

* [Message formatting](/help/format-your-message-using-markdown)
* [Preview messages before sending](/help/preview-your-message-before-sending)
* [Resize the compose box](/help/resize-the-compose-box)
